Busy all day. Went to the organ at night and didn’t manage very well. Met John Wilkinson and Chapman and talked to them a bit.
The Jews’ chimney on fire and Joe was in putting it out1. We didn’t go to bed until after midnight.
Joe commenced nice work at Dr Todds’.
“Chimney on fire”: most people seem to have been accustomed to performing minor tasks which Jewish neighbours could not do on their Sabbath, which began at sunset on the Friday; a chimney on fire seems rather more than ordinary. ↩
Got up about 7.30. Busy all day. Stayed in at night and worked. Had walk last thing.
Got up about 7 o’clock. Drilled. Finished in good time. Played piano then went to the practice. Fairly good practice. Another quartet to be taken by Charlie, Willie, Harriet Hand† and Edie Hunter. I played one game at ping-pong and lost. Mother up at Millfield1 seeing about a business2. They want £40 now for it and only make about £1 profit. Dr Blair paid his last visit.
Millfield: a district in Sunderland, between Chester Road and the Wear, just N. of Eldon Street. ↩
“Seeing about a business”: ALL’s family planned to buy a shop; cf footnote on 13 February 1914, and diary entry of 26 January 1915. ↩
Got up about 8 o’clock. Pretty busy at work. Finished in decent time. Tried to write some of the story, but gave it up, Went out last thing. Played a bit on the piano.
Lot of interest in Ulster and rumours of officers resigning their commissions1 because they will not fight against their countrymen.
Joe commenced at Durham.
Got up about 9. Drilled. At chapel as usual. Played in Bible class for Willie. Mr Harrison spoke. Sherwood Spain appointed secretary to the Bible class and I promised him I would help him. My turn for the children’s service again. 4 of us down and we managed pretty well. Played piano a bit. Had short walks.
Got up in decent time. Finished about 1.30. Had short walk in the town in the afternoon. Went to the King’s Theatre at night and saw “The Daughter of the Regiment”. It was very good but not so good as the pieces I saw previously. Willie Marshall and Willie Whittaker with me. A crowded house. Wet changeable day. Ulster Crisis very acute1.
“The Ulster Crisis” refers to the first signs of Protestant opposition in Ireland to the Home Rule legislation of Asquith’s government, which was followed by widespread gun-running and civilian armament; and to the “Curragh Mutiny” by British Army officers in Dublin, who announced that they would resign their commissions rather than lead military action against the Protestant opposition to Home Rule (see 23 March.) Although these troubles were put into suspense by the outbreak of WW1 in August 1914, it was never considered possible to introduce military conscription in Ireland. The Dublin uprising ensued in 1916. ↩
Got up late after lying awake a good lot. At work late. Tried to write out story at night, but got on rather poorly. Went out for walk last thing. Charlie and Mother at the King’s Theatre seeing “Samson & Delilah”1.
Samson & Delilah: Possibly the opera by Saint-Saëns, which was first performed in Weimar in 1877. ↩
Got through work in decent time. Joe received message from Newcastle with regard to the place he applied for. He went to Newcastle and practically fixed it. At night he went to see Dr Todd in regard to a postcard he had received.
Band of Hope Concert1. Very poor house. The social a success from a musical point of view. Pye and Charlie sang all right and Miss Robson was not so bad. Briggs managed all right. I played pretty well. Miss Hunter and the children were pretty well taken with. Mr Morley was good but had poor reception. Mr Chadwick didn’t turn up except for his speech. A lot of excitement at home about it.
Band of Hope: See note on 13 January. ↩